Last night I overheard that they will say the seating was random, but something tells me Gravel will be on an end.

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by Ross Smith on 08/04/2007 02:06:21 PM EST

Gina Cooper, superstar organizer starts it.

Matt Bai jokes that he is not used to that much applause from bloggers.

Calls it historic not just because of the presidential candidates but because of the blogger/traditional media cooperation.

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by Ross Smith on 08/04/2007 02:13:21 PM EST

Kucinich is here after all.

The applause rose fro Edwards, spilleed over into Hillary and peaked with Obam's intro.

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by Ross Smith on 08/04/2007 02:14:43 PM EST

even Hillary applauses. Crowd starts singing Happy Birthday!

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by Ross Smith on 08/04/2007 02:15:55 PM EST

Foreign, domestic, and philosophy, 24 minutes each.

Limit interruptions?

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 08/04/2007 02:16:59 PM EST

Long question -- have you given more thought to that answer?

-- "I screwed up on that one."

"This is what I would do . . . " His standard way of answering with first, second, third, and then uses the extra time to elaborate.

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by Ross Smith on 08/04/2007 02:18:57 PM EST

Richardson asks do you want me to wrap up or end -- Bai says wrap up, which is a free pass IMO.

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by Ross Smith on 08/04/2007 02:20:12 PM EST

What is an "extreme enough circumstance" for you to accept another Bush Supreme Court nominee?

These questions are fairly tight.

Dodd says he does not regret Roberts vote because he believed him . . . (Like others believed Bush on Iraq war?)

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by Ross Smith on 08/04/2007 02:21:38 PM EST

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by Ross Smith on 08/04/2007 02:22:18 PM EST

from health care battle.

This is a softball. In no way keeps the candidate out of the ruts.

Hillary says all candidates are the same.

Then has her three lessons . . .

Scars? No real explanation of what went wrong.

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by Ross Smith on 08/04/2007 02:23:52 PM EST

would he have it a priority even at the expense of health care or other priorities?

Good question -- Matt may not get him out of the ruts, however.

Obama says investments: will not neglect ed. for children or health care.

Gets more time for his birthday!

Adds medicaid and medicare cost savings from a health care plan.

Says "that's right to "Theoretically you would abide some budget deficits to pay for  . . . "

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by Ross Smith on 08/04/2007 02:27:53 PM EST

Edwards says is 2% of GDP. Need BIG changes, not small changes.

The question was how to keep Congress from running away with budget growth.

He does not answer, launches into populism.

Gets more time!

He says he has fought and beaten "these people"

Big applause.

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by Ross Smith on 08/04/2007 02:30:00 PM EST

Has a three point plan -- need a constitutional amendment . .  gets boos. Cheers for ridding corporate welfare.

"You can give speeches about cange and leadership . .  . but this is obscene"

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by Ross Smith on 08/04/2007 02:31:25 PM EST

Rosenbau asks Dodd media consolidation.

Dodd says he writes letters to Justice Dept. (good luck with them).

Says he stood up to Bill O'Reilly (pander!). "Thank the Lord their is a Daily Kos."

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by Ross Smith on 08/04/2007 02:33:17 PM EST

Says "take a look if we need new laws, enforce those on the books.

Tosses in something about open internet.

Said FCC ruling on spectrum was encouraging.

"Keeping the internet open."

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by Ross Smith on 08/04/2007 02:34:51 PM EST

Is there a gov program or agency you would shut down?

Kucinich says things that perpetuate nuclear power industry.

Says people need to know there is a candidate for single payer.

Bad question because the time to say nucs was short and then Kucinich could go off on a whole 'nother tanget.

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by Ross Smith on 08/04/2007 02:36:37 PM EST

A question that stands for others
-- what would you do to restore balance?

Edwards says rghts and liberties, close Guantanamo, no torture, no spying on Americans.

Says we need a transparent gov.

Talking points about "trading our insiders for theirs . . "

asks for commitment of no more money from Washington lobbyists . . . "

Big applause for populist red meat.

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by Ross Smith on 08/04/2007 02:39:23 PM EST

23% national sales tax -- what about the poor as they wait for their rebate check.

He says the cheering is for what you heard 4 and 8 years ago.

Fair Tax would dilute Congress power so they will not adopt it.

Trashes his fellow candidates

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by Ross Smith on 08/04/2007 02:42:18 PM EST

Prefaced with all of you prefer out of Iraq and have some kind of plan, says Kucinich said you have the votes because  . . . Then she stumbles and calls Bush Clinton!!

She claims 60 vote rule is an obstacle.

Total failure of a question if trying to avoid talking points.

Kucinich responds with impeach Cheney. Then says Dems in Congress ar not keeping faith with American people. Tell the President to stop it now.

Dodd says need votes fro something meaningful. Throws rhetorical bone to troops.

Richardson points out his "no residual forces" difference."

Bai follows up and asks how to protect against genocide in Iraq? Richardson says there already is a civil war.

De-authorize via Byrd resolution. Says can withdraw in 6 months.

Gravel says they do have the votes but need to keep voting on cloture daily and cut out the recess . . .

Gravel claims they are chicken, basically.

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by Ross Smith on 08/04/2007 02:50:32 PM EST

Obama says they weren't in Iraq! Our reaction to 9-11 has fanned anti-American sentiment because of conventional thinking.

I said in 2002 it would do this.

The NIE was clear that AQ is stronger and we have not finished the job in Afghanistan . . .

No sense in talking tough on wiretapping while . . .

Obama says we have not always acted intelligently -- narrow interests in the Middle East -- need to understand hopes and drams, double foreign aid.

Engage foes as well as friends . . . will make a difference.

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by Ross Smith on 08/04/2007 02:54:23 PM EST

Does so with Bush bashing. Duh.

Says do not accept Bush way of framing.

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by Ross Smith on 08/04/2007 02:55:34 PM EST

Hillary says there is anti-Bush more than anti-American sentiment in the world.

She says first responders have made us safer.

She says it is a "Global War agaisnt Terrorists."

Says it is a complicated long term struggle.

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by Ross Smith on 08/04/2007 02:57:46 PM EST

should have had analysis before the Iraq war -- duh. Thanks for adding.

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by Ross Smith on 08/04/2007 02:58:29 PM EST

Good Q: first China question in the dem debates!!!!!!!!

Obama: get our house in order first -- if they are our banker . . . Human rights and trade pressure are necessary. Must be active in the world -- the Chinese are filling the void in Africa and Latin America -- get out of Iraq.

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by Ross Smith on 08/04/2007 03:01:12 PM EST

Big softball

Dodd says need language training goes into peace corps experience pitch,  . . . in the ruts.

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by Ross Smith on 08/04/2007 03:02:17 PM EST

You said danger of taking down Mushariff . . . is this like the cold war but with communism replcaed by terrorism, and need to support dicatators if they oppose our enemy?

Edwards says it's tough. Says he met with Mushariff and was told a real public school ed. would solve.

Back in the rut of his global poverty program.

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by Ross Smith on 08/04/2007 03:05:12 PM EST

Edwards says "carefully" ratchet pressure then jumps to criticizing Saudi arms deal.

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by Ross Smith on 08/04/2007 03:06:09 PM EST

and really answer the actual question. We appease them now, with huge aid programs.

Says he knows from his experience that the Cheney/Biden relationship is now over.

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by Ross Smith on 08/04/2007 03:07:32 PM EST

pontificator asks softball -- will you hire a WH blogger -- show of hands

Edwards says her name will be Elizabeth Edwards.

Gravel says Pres can do it themselves.

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by Ross Smith on 08/04/2007 03:09:13 PM EST

all Alaska politicians corrupt -- Gravel says all politicians walk in the mud.

Money is the corrupting agent . . . Media is controlled by 5 corps who tell you  . . .

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by Ross Smith on 08/04/2007 03:10:27 PM EST

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by Ross Smith on 08/04/2007 03:11:29 PM EST

If we are to actually make big changes must expand the voter base!

Go to Mississippi . . .  put new states in play.

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by Ross Smith on 08/04/2007 03:12:46 PM EST

saying people do not think there is a difference between the parties.

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by Ross Smith on 08/04/2007 03:13:26 PM EST

But says Dean's 50 state strategy is good and points to her rural strategy in NY.

Says she will be a President for everybody.

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by Ross Smith on 08/04/2007 03:14:50 PM EST

Southwest matters, too. Governors there now.

Need verifiable paper ballots . . . .red meat that has no relation to the question

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by Ross Smith on 08/04/2007 03:16:10 PM EST

loss of control of time and questions.

Edwards is now on talking point about real change, real reform, my party, this day forward, no dime from Washington lobbyist. . .  

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by Ross Smith on 08/04/2007 03:17:43 PM EST

It's a position John has taken . . .

Nobody serious believes I am going to be influenced by a lobbyist . . .  I will be on the front lines . . . . I wish it were as simple as . . .  I am here to thank you for being a part of the progressive movement in America . . .

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by Ross Smith on 08/04/2007 03:19:23 PM EST

represent nurses, social workers . . .

Look at my record.

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by Ross Smith on 08/04/2007 03:20:02 PM EST

Need public financing whether you are a lobbyist or not

HUGE applause

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by Ross Smith on 08/04/2007 03:20:38 PM EST

Obama says he is for public financing and that insurance and drug companies do have disproportionate influence. They are not spending it just to contribute to the public interest.

I passed campaign reform in Illinois and w/ Feingold overcame resistance to bundling transparency.

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by Ross Smith on 08/04/2007 03:22:48 PM EST

Kucinich asks Edwards to renounce money from hedge funds

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by Ross Smith on 08/04/2007 03:24:12 PM EST

Edwards says do not agree w/ Hillary we are safer. What Bush has done at large . .

again no answer to the Q. "still more work to be done . . "

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by Ross Smith on 08/04/2007 03:26:00 PM EST

Richardson actually answers the question with several points plan.

Dodd says terrible vote on habeus, etc. Red faced about Constitution at risk.

Obama: this raises larger question of what to do with executive branch. Appoint good people . . . lobbying and ethics applies at both ends of Penn avenue. In my presidency will not be able to lobby revolving door after serving in WH.

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by Ross Smith on 08/04/2007 03:29:20 PM EST

Taking off shoes, hardened cockpit doors, first responders . . .

The DHS: my legislation made FEMA director have to be qualified but unitary exec. allows that to be ignored.

Duty of the president is to be prepared to keep America safe.

Lobbyists do the work of the leaders of the sorps.

Con Amendment to get public financing of elections.

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by Ross Smith on 08/04/2007 03:31:52 PM EST

Because foreign civilians die. Diplomacy.

Ricardson -- VP will be member of my exec branch.

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by Ross Smith on 08/04/2007 03:32:53 PM EST

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 08/04/2007 03:34:00 PM EST